A urinary catheter is a tube system placed in the body to drain and collect urine from the bladder.
Your physician may prescribe a catheter for either short-term or long-term use. Some conditions that may require a catheter include:
- Urinary incontinence (Inability to control urine output)
- Urinary retention (Inability to completely empty the bladder)
- Surgery that made a catheter necessary, such as prostate or gynecological surgery
- Other medical conditions such as multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury or dementia
Catheters come in many sizes (referred to as French sizes), they are made of either latex or a type of silicone. A Foley catheter, for example, is a soft tube that is inserted into the bladder to drain the urine.
In general, your health care provider will recommend the smallest possible catheter. Some people may need larger catheters to control urine leakage around the catheter or if the urine contains large amounts of sediment.
Complications
Urinary tract infections (UTI) are one of the most frequent and significant complications for catheter users. Urinary tract infections occur when bacteria gets into a user's bladder or kidneys. It is the most common hospital-acquired infection.
Catheters provide a pathway for bacteria to get into the body. Bacteria that would normally be on the skin may make their way into a user's body. Bacteria grow and multiply in the urine if urine remains in the bladder for an extended period of time.
People with diabetes have a higher risk of a UTI because of changes in the immune system. Any disorder that suppresses the immune system raises the risk of a urinary infection.
Safety
Washing and reusing catheters has proven to be unsafe. Studies have found that treating urinary tract infections is more expensive than providing single-use catheters. In fact, the FDA has never approved repeated use of catheters due to the risks associated with infection.
In 2008, most health insurance plans as well as Medicare began to cover the cost of single-use catheters. This was a major change for catheter users, as it increased insurance coverage for disposable intermittent catheters from just four catheters per month to up to 200 per month, per patient. The biggest reason for this change was patient health and safety.
Liberty offers a wide range of urological products from leading manufacturers. With our discreet home delivery, knowledgeable patient service representatives and phone access to nurses upon request, Liberty is here to support you.